Fla_Larry

just brought home my two brand new tank stands and canopys
might require just a touch of finish work though.

Attachment 22112

material list for 55g:
6 2x4 10ft
6 2x2 8ft
1 sheet 1/2" BC ply
1 sheet 1/4" BC Ply

now why so much material, well if your going to do this you need a place to work on, namely a couple of saw horses. Most of the 2x4 material is for that, it makes for a cheap saw horse ( referred to as a pony) and only takes a few minutes to build, and best of all each pony will nly cost you about 7.00.

cut 6 peices 30" long and 8 peices 34" long
the 30" peices get nailed together to form an "IBeam" shape
the 34" peices are the legs, simply attach using a couple of 6d 3" nails.

Attachment 22114

once this is done you now have your wrk area.
Place 1/2" sheet and mark out your cuts as shown

Attachment 22113

and again for your 1/4" sheet

Now cut
8 peices of 2x4 24" long
8 peices of 2x2 11 1/2" long
4 peices of 2x2 49 1/2" long

from the 1/4 sheet you need:
6 peices 27 x 14 1/2 with a 1.5 x 1.5 in nothch cut in each corner
from the 1/2 sheet you need :
2 peices also 27 x 14 1/2 do NOT notch the corners on these
top & bottom sheets are 52 1/2 x 16 1/2 1/2 Ply
center shelves are 2 - 14 1/2 x 26
material for doors are also 1/2" ply
and material for rear of stand is 1/4"
this will get you the stack of kindeling shown

Attachment 22116

Fla_Larry

we'll start with the verticals as that is what makes this stand very strong.
take one 1/4" with the notched corners and set up "C" side up
attach the 2 x 2 to the tp and bottom, and 2 x 4's on the side as showen, i used simple panel nails to attach these as the are serreted and will not back out.


Attachment 22117

take a second 1/4" sheet and attach to the other side, again make sure the "B" side is out.

Attachment 22118

This is what you now have as you can see from a load point of view, a
14" x 2" solid wood support, HUGE weight capacity, but weights hardly anything and is cheap. you need 2 of these.

Now you are going to build 2 more but on the second side attach the Un-Notched 1/2" peices these are the out side ends.

Now for the basic assembly...
attach the 2"x2" 49 1/2" to the endpeices into the notches, and secure by the method of your choice, I use 2 1/2" finish nails, and nail in boh axis ( in and Down).

Then set the 2 remaining peices in using the spacing you have determined.
I set mine to have two end cabinates with an open center section for my quarantine Tank

Attachment 22119

This is the completed frame

docjr03

Nice! I look forward to more!

Fla_Larry

mid-day start today, had some minor rain going on, and felt like taking a nap.

So basic frame is complete but is wobbly, thats because the top, bottom and more importantly the rear are not attached.

The rear is attached using the 1" serreted nails every 4 inch or so down the center line of the top and bottom 2x2's and also down the center line of the center two dividers. when finished there is no wobble.
Attachment 22146

top & bottom are the last to attach and are secured with 2" finish nails set on the C.L. of the ends and dividers.
the reason i opted for finish nails here, is the top and bottom simple need to be kept from moveing and nothing else, BUT they need to be set below the surface.
if you look closely you can just make out the 1" ( black heads ) on the rear, and some white spots on the top. The white spots are wood glue. as it sets up, you sand the tops and sided, the saw dust will attach to the glue, and "Poof" no nail heads. and once painted, they are completly hidden
Attachment 22145

This last pic is fully assembled less the front doors and 1 coat of Black Exterior Grade Latex paint in Satin finish just starting to set up.

Attachment 22147